A meeting between Jewish leaders and Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger will take place in Washington at the end of April, it was disclosed here today by Rabbi Israel Miller, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Speaking at a press conference here with Israeli and Jewish journalists, Rabbi Miller said the forthcoming meeting was set by Kissinger when he met with 16 leaders of American Jewish organizations on March 11 in Washington.
That meeting, described by the participants which included Rabbi Miller as “an off-the-record” discussion, dealt with the status of Syrian negotiations on disengagement, continued economic and military support to Israel and “other matters of importance to the Jewish community.” The problem of Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union was not specifically mentioned as having been discussed.
Asked about his expectation from the present Kissinger visit to Moscow. Rabbi Miller said he did not think the Secretary would return to the U.S. and say that everything is “all right.” He said the response by the USSR will not be in the form of a statement given to Kissinger but rather by their deeds.
CALCULATED RISK IN SUPPORTING JACKSON BILL
Referring to Kissinger, Rabbi Miller said: “We have no complaints, for the time being, against Kissinger. That does not mean that we are going to follow him blindly.” On the question of Soviet Jewish immigration to the U.S.–estimated at 4000 for 1974–Rabbi Miller said they will be assisted and resettled by the American Jewish community. The challenge, he noted, is the “spiritual absorption” of Soviet Jews in America.
Reaffirming the Conference support of the Jackson/Mills-Vanik measures, he stated: “We are going to maintain our stand backing the legislation. We are not considering any proposal to reformulate the J/M-V Amendment. In fact, no such proposal has been made.” Rabbi Miller hinted, however, that if the USSR “manifests a change in their attitude” in regard to Jewish emigration, the American Jewish community will be willing to “take a look” and reconsider the legislation now pending in the Congress.
He asserted that “the next step is up to the Russians.” He conceded, however, that by supporting the Jackson Amendment “we all take a calculated risk,” referring to the fact that Kissinger had noted several times that Congressional roadblocks to unhampered trade with the USSR might cause the flow of emigration to be shut off. However, Rabbi Miller added, while the risks are there “the stakes that are involved are very great.” (By Yitzhak Rabi.)
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
